Update — Jennings: ‘Glad to’ give up Plaza PILOT for aid boost

The morning after Gov. David Paterson’s office called the city of Albany’s protestations about the amount of state aid it receives “laughable”, Mayor Jerry Jennings countered with a challenge on his Friday morning radio show.

Paterson’s dismissal of the report from former state Budget Director John Cape relied in part on the fact that, in addition to state aid, Albany receives nearly $23 million annually from the state in lieu of taxes on Empire State Plaza.

Update:Here’s a link to a fact sheet from the state Division of Budget that outlines its argument why Albany is fairly compensated.

Speaking on WGDJ-Talk 1300 this morning, Jennings said he’d be pleased as punch to ditch that annual PILOT payment — which, by the way, drops to $15 million next year and stays that way for the next two decades — in return for a permanent boost in other state aid.

“I would be glad to give that up if they would put us on the scale of other cities in the state,” Jennings said.

He was referring to an analysis in the Cape report that found Albany would see $33.8 million more in state aid if it received just the average of what other upstate cities get in what is known as AIM money — or Assistance and Incentives to Municipalities.

It doesn’t take an accounting degree to know that $33.8 million is better than $15 million, or even $22.8 million.

Jennings also went on to say that his criticisms of the state funding formula were not directed at any one governor — namely, Paterson — but at the long-standing system.

But it’s undeniable that things chilled between Jennings and Paterson when the governor two years ago vetoed a PILOT agreement on the Harriman Office Campus potentially worth $325 million to the city over the next 30 years.

It was after that veto that city officials began to speak openly about possible layoffs, which are finally coming to fruition in Jennings’ proposed 2011 budget.

Still, given that Jennings has been out raising money for Andrew Cuomo, it seems unlikely the mayor will be sad to see Paterson go.

Jennings also dismissed the contention by Paterson’s office that Albany also receives some great by having thousands of state workers travel downtown everyday.

The design of of Empire State Plaza, administration officials contend of the massive 40-year-old government complex, is meant to get people in and out of downtown without ever having to be inconvenienced by venturing out into the city.

3 Responses

Everyone should be glad to see David Paterson go, especially the Mayor and all other good democrats.
What a slap in the face it was that, just a few months after losing the race against the Mayor, Nathan LeBron, the Republican Candidate, was appointed to a very high position with the State Liquor Authority.

Anyone who puts Jennings in his place is ok in my book. A lot of people come into Albany, park and then leave. Absolutely true – why be inconvenienced with a completely dysfunctional capital pequeña. I wonder why Jennings crony Nick D’Antonio is the only person who will get a raise “on the books”. Don’t kid yourself that it is because his responsibilities will increase with his step up from deputy commissioner to lead the city’s Department of General Services. He was completely inept as the city’s Commissioner of Recreation; now as Commish of DGS he and Frank Commisso can really fill their wallets with the cash for scrap program one of them came up with. Sweet deal for them. Raw deal for Albanyians. But the people of Albany keep bringing this onto themselves – too bad, so sad.